# std::move_iterator<Iter>::operator*,->

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< cpp‎ | iterator‎ | move iterator

reference operator*() const; | (1) | (since C++11) (constexpr since C++17)
pointer operator->() const; | (2) | (since C++11) (constexpr since C++17) (deprecated in C++20)

Returns an rvalue reference or pointer to the current element.

### Return value

1) static_cast<reference>(*`current`﻿)(until C++20)ranges::iter_move(`current`﻿)(since C++20)
2) `current`

### Notes

operator-> is deprecated because deferencing its result may yield an lvalue. This may lead to unintended behavior.

### Example

Run this code

    #include <iomanip>
    #include <iostream>
    #include <iterator>
    #include <string>
    #include <vector>

    void print(auto rem, const auto& v)
    {
        for (std::cout << rem; const auto& e : v)
            std::cout << std::quoted(e) << ' ';
        std::cout << '\n';
    }

    int main()
    {
        std::vector<std::string> p{"alpha", "beta", "gamma", "delta"}, q;
        print("1) p: ", p);
        for (std::move_iterator it{p.begin()}, end{p.end()}; it != end; ++it)
        {
            it->push_back('!'); // calls -> string::push_back(char)
            q.emplace_back(*it); // *it <- overload (1)
        }
        print("2) p: ", p);
        print("3) q: ", q);

        std::vector v{1, 2, 3};
        std::move_iterator it{v.begin()};
        // *it = 13; // error: using rvalue as lvalue
    }

Possible output:

    1) p: "alpha" "beta" "gamma" "delta"
    2) p: "" "" "" ""
    3) q: "alpha!" "beta!" "gamma!" "delta!"

### Defect reports

The following behavior-changing defect reports were applied retroactively to previously published C++ standards.

DR | Applied to | Behavior as published | Correct behavior
--- | --- | --- | ---
LWG 2106 | C++11 | operator* would return a dangling reference if *`current` yields a prvalue | returns the object in this case

### See also

operator[] (C++11) | accesses an element by index (public member function)

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